AC — Affirmative Case

Normally the first speech in a debate.

Aff — Affirmative

The side of the debate that supports the resolution.

AR — Affirmative Rebuttal

One of the types of speeches in a debate. Often combined with a number — for example, “See the 1AR” designates the first affirmative rebuttal.

DA — Disadvantage

A fundamental piece of many negative strategies in policy debate. Argues that the affirmative’s plan will lead to some sort of unwanted outcome.

D-Rule — Decision Rule

Used in some forms of debate to allow the judge to decide who won the round.

Flow

Short for flowsheet — the note-taking device used by judges and competitors in many formats of debate.

K — Kritik

A kind of argument used in multiple forms of debate. Argues that some larger issue than what has already been presented is a better focus of the debate.

Neg — Negative

The side of the debate that does not support the resolution.

NC — Negative Constructive

One of the types of speeches in a debate. Often combined with a number — for example, “See the 1NC” designates the first negative constructive.

NR — Negative Rebuttal

One of the types of speeches in a debate. Often combined with a number — for example, “See the 1NR” designates the first negative rebuttal.

RFD — Reason for Decision

An explanation by a judge (either verbally or on a ballot) as to why they made the decision they did in the round.

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Lincoln-Douglas Debate (LD)

LD — Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Unlike the high school context, LD in college normally refers to the specific event also called “NFA L/D” — a one-on-one policy debate on a yearlong topic governed by the National Forensics Association.

Parliamentary Debate (Parli)

Parli — Parliamentary Debate

A shortened term for parliamentary debate, one of the formats of collegiate debate.

PM — Prime Minister

One of the speaker roles in parliamentary debate.

PMC — Prime Minister Constructive

One of the speeches in a parliamentary debate.

PMR — Prime Minister Rebuttal

One of the speeches in a parliamentary debate.

LO — Leader of Opposition

One of the speaker roles in parliamentary debate.

LOC — Leader of Opposition Constructive

One of the speeches in a parliamentary debate.

LOR — Leader of Opposition Rebuttal

One of the speeches in a parliamentary debate.

POI — Point of Information

In a debate context, this occurs when one debater asks another debater from the opposing team a question during a speech. Note: POI also has a separate meaning in Individual Events — see the IE section below.

IPDA — International Public Debate Association

IPDA

The International Public Debate Association — an organization for a specific form of evidence-less debate that calls for conversational delivery in front of a lay judge. Also refers to the national tournament run by IPDA.

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AFA — American Forensics Association

An organization. Also used as shorthand for the “AFA NIET” — the National Individual Event Tournament run by AFA each year.

CEDA — Cross-Examination Debate Association

An organization. Also shorthand for the CEDA National Championship tournament, which uses team evidence debate on a yearlong topic.

NDT — National Debate Tournament

An organization. Also shorthand for that organization’s national tournament, which uses team evidence debate on a yearlong topic.

NFA — National Forensics Association

An organization. Also shorthand for that organization’s national tournament, which includes both speech and debate events.

NPDA — National Parliamentary Debate Association

An organization. Also used as a synonym for parliamentary debate, and as shorthand for the NPDA National Tournament, which includes parliamentary debate.

NPTE — National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence

A tournament for the top parliamentary debate teams in the country.

PKD — Pi Kappa Delta

A national forensics honor society. Also shorthand for the PKD National Tournament and Conference (also called the National Comprehensive Tournament), which includes nearly all forms of forensics competition.

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IE — Individual Events

A synonym for speech events; does not include debate events. Note: Duo Interpretation is typically considered an IE even though two people participate, while Lincoln-Douglas Debate is typically not considered an IE even though one student represents each team.

Interp — Interpretation Event

One genre of individual events.

Intro — Introduction

A short portion of an interpretation event that introduces the principal themes and title of the piece being performed. Also refers to the opening section of a platform or limited prep speech that gains the audience’s attention, states the central idea, and previews the main points.

Teaser

The first section of an interpretation event, meant to engage interest in the performance. Often followed by an introduction and then the rest of the performance.

Drama — Dramatic Interpretation

Unlike high school forensics, in the collegiate context this normally means any interp derived from literature in script format. It does not mean an interp that is sad or tragic.

POI — Programmed Oral Interpretation

In forensics generally, an event that mixes literature from poetry, prose, and drama sources into one thematic program. Note: POI also refers to “Point of Information” in parliamentary debate — see the Debate Formats section above.

STE — Speech to Entertain

A platform event. Also known as After-Dinner Speaking (ADS).

ADS — After-Dinner Speech

A platform speech also known as Speech to Entertain (STE).

Extemp — Extemporaneous Speaking

One of the limited preparation events. Allows 30 minutes of preparation for a 7-minute speech.

Lit — Literature

Used by judges to discuss the relative merits of the literature chosen by a performer in interpretation events.

Black Book

A specific style of 5.5″ × 8.5″ × 1″ black binder often used by performers in interpretation events.

VA — Visual Aid

Used especially in platform events to help explain concepts that would be difficult to follow verbally, or to enhance a speech in some way.

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Break

To qualify for an elimination round. The best scores in preliminary rounds are normally used to determine who “breaks” to final rounds.

Finals

The last rounds of any event, for which qualification in preliminary rounds is normally required. All or some competitors in finals receive awards at the closing ceremony of many tournaments.

Cume — Cumulative

A common phrase at award ceremonies: “It took a cume of 6 to break in impromptu” means that students whose total rankings across all preliminary rounds summed to six or less were scheduled into final rounds.

Prelim — Preliminary Round

The rankings in preliminary rounds generally serve to qualify students for final rounds.

Postings

The physical (paper) or virtual (website) listing of rounds, including location, competitors’ names, and speaking order. Also serves as the central hub for all tournament activities.

Tab Room — Tabulation Room

Where all ballots from the tournament are either physically delivered for computer entry, or where tournament administrators monitor the online entry of ballots.

Warm Room

A section of some debate tournaments where team records are displayed and judges can be asked for feedback on rounds. Generally kept separate from postings so teams who do not want to know their record can avoid it.

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The official PSCFA rules and procedures document is available for download below. Please review it before participating in or administering a tournament.

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Download PSCFA Rules and Procedures — September 2024 (Word Document)

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